Smart HDD program depicted at the screenshot to this post is indeed smart, but not for doing good things. It is smart to prompt users into thinking their system is in serious danger. It is smart to trick them into spending money for the totally useless software it represents. However, it will not render the desired resolution of all real computer problems, errors and bugs having to do with your hard drive(s), system memory, etc. It is worth saying that this program follows the traits of System Check virus that has been reviewed in several of our posts recently. Both of these applications are generally the same, except for the fact that Smart HDD changed its GUI, now having a modernized interface. The inner features of these two useless tools remained the same. The rogue not only infects the PC, slows it down, etc. It also causes several other major problems, in particular, the issue of hidden files. Many users have already contacted us and told that this virus hid the majority of their data, pictures, icons, shortcuts and programs. The resolution of all problems caused by this scam is possible by using the reliable and powerful anti-virus software, but first let us analyze more what the rogue does once it infects the PC.
First, the malware that names itself as Smart HDD tunes up the PC in such a manner that would allow it to be launched automatically, together with every Windows startup. The scareware then runs fake scan of your system and tells about various problems allegedly revealed during the scan. Please find the quotations of these scary error notifications below.
Hard drives diagnostic report
Your computer is in critical state. Hard disk error detected.
As a result it can lead to hard disk failure and potential loss of data.
It is highly recommended to repair all found errors to prevent loss of files, applications and documents stored on your computer.
Hard drive boot sector reading error
During I/O system initialization, the boot device driver might have failed to initialize the boot device. File system initialization might have failed because it did not recognize the data on the boot device.
System blocks were not found
This has most likely occurred because of hard disk failure.
This may also lead to a potential loss of data.
Error 0×00000024 – NTFS_FILE_SYSTEM
The Stop 0×24 message indicates that a problems occurred within Ntfs.sys, the driver file that allows the system to read and write to NTFS file system drives. It is most often related to hard drive errors.
Error 0×00000078 – INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE
The Stop 0×78 message indicates that Windows has lost access to the system partition or boot volume during the startup process. During I/O system initialization, the boot device driver might have failed to initialize the boot device (typically a hard disk). Repartitioning the system partition or installing a new SATA/RAID adapter or disk controller might also induce this error.
The DRM attribute value is too small before disk scan
Drive Reliability Monitor (a system or monitoring the reliability of disc drive functioning). The malfunction counter built into the disk drive shows excessive number of malfunctions. The storage device needs to be replaced.
Error 0×00000050 – PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA
The Stop 0×50 message indicates that requested data was not in memory. The system generates an exception error when using a reference to an invalid system memory address.
Error 0x0000002E – DATA_BUS_ERROR
The Stop 0x2E message is typically caused by failed or defective RAM (including motherboard, Level 2 cache, or video memory), incompatible or mismatched memory hardware, or when a device driver attempts to access an address in the 0x8xxxxxxx range that does not exist (does not map to a physical address).
As you see, this time the malware was designed by hackers on a more professional level, with better English vocabulary used (unlike the previous group of fake HDDs like System Check). Still, good outward design of this program does not make it a better software as far as its actions are concerned. The program is not able to perform a single good thing for your system. Whatever it does say to be able to fix is simply the outrageous lie, whereas the people who developed this program are well-organized turds that deserve to be imprisoned for their so bountiful crimes.
We recommend you to remove Smart HDD scareware using GridinSoft Trojan Killer’s full licensed version. In addition, by downloading this program you will also be able to restore your hidden (missing) files free of charge. Simply click “Tools” menu of GridinSoft Trojan Killer and click “Restore hidden files”. If you have any questions or problems deleting this malware or restoring your important data please contact GridinSoft Trojan Killer’s customer (technical) support, and below is the complete removal guide to delete this scam.
Smart HDD complete removal guide at the official site of GridinSoft Trojan Killer:
http://trojan-killer.net/smart-hdd-fake-hard-drive-defragmenter-remove/.
